NEW LONDON, Conn. -- The Babson men's basketball team finally secured its first NEWMAC victory on Wednesday night, as sophomore John Wickey (Manchester, N.H.) scored 20 points and junior Kenny Ross (Furlong, Pa.) added 11 points and three assists as part of a 61-55 road win at Coast Guard.

Wickey shot 8-for-12 to lead the Beavers (9-8 overall, 1-4 NEWMAC), who snapped a four-game slide with the triumph. Senior Russell Braithwaite (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 13 points and six boards, and first-year Travis Sheldon (Woodstock, N.Y.) tacked on nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range.

Babson never trailed in the first half, opening with eight straight points and later taking a 26-24 lead into the locker room. Coast Guard (1-13 overall, 0-5 NEWMAC) then took its only lead of the game, 36-35, with 13 minutes left, but that was quickly erased by an 11-2 burst that featured three-pointers from Sheldon, Wickey, and junior Matt Palazini (Franklin, Mass.).

The Bears got to within one at 54-53 with 1:43 remaining, but two free throws by Braithwaite and four straight points by Ross put the game away.

NOTES: Babson now holds a 41-28 lead in the all-time series with Coast Guard. The rivalry dates back to 1972... Ross now has at least five assists in 13 of Babson's 17 games this season... The Beavers play again on Saturday at home against Wheaton at 4 pm as part of a Coaches vs. Cancer basketball doubleheader (click to learn more).